I just received a Twisted Root Designs Double Hammock from an Amazon sale and was very pleased with the setup. I either make my own stuff or search the bins in the thrift stores for gear. This was too good a deal not to try. I like the material, a soft diamond ripstop. I also like the size, almost 11 feet long and 6 1/5 feet wide. I like the wider hammocks. Yet it all stuffs down into a smaller sack than some of my narrower hammocks. The gathered end has a very strong marine grade rope for the loop. That ain't gonna break any time soon unless I put it near the fire.

The only bad thing was the nasty old carabiners they decided to use. They're the junky hardware store steel clips, but they chose to use the ones with the screw retainer to hold the gate closed. The gate is very narrow, and the sharp edges of the cheap 'biners snag on everything, including the hammock material if you get it in the way. You could easily put yourself on the ground if you put a tear in the fabric in the wrong spot. These 'biners were different than the aluminum, wire gate carabiners shown in the description.

Amazon said it was from a third party seller and they were out of stock and couldn't be changed out. I contacted Twisted Root to let them know how they ruined a pretty nice setup by choosing this kind of 'biner, and they said that these 'biners were the UPGRADE! I'm betting that the old wire-gates had a failure or two because they weren't rated high enough, so they switched to these to be sure, but then they added a worse problem, IMO.
]]>Reviewstangarahttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/145398-Twisted-Root-Designs-Double-Hammock-nice-kit-but-nasty-cheap-carabinersDutchware Spider Daisy Chains + mantishttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/145372-Dutchware-Spider-Daisy-Chains-mantis?goto=newpost
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 18:36:54 GMTFirst, I'm blown away at Dutch's solution to "atlas straps". He's taken every element and improved it. I've been using his gear for a while now and it's always top-quality and the attention to detail is superb. My old setup was nylon tree straps/dutch buckle, whoopie slings w/hook and continuous loop on my WBBB. It's been a while since I hiked, so I went to see what's new on his site. I have some atlas straps and an eno doublenest for lazing around here locally, however the weight of atlas straps ( 11 oz ) is why I've never carried them. They're also only 9' in length.

Enter in UHMWPE ( ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene ). Dutch had someone manufacture these truly amazing "atlas straps". 20ft weighs under 5oz, the breaking strength is 1500lbs! Atlas straps by comparison are 1000lbs per strap. If you use the "mantis" clips/hooks with a continuous loop, you get a system that is lighter than my old one, more durable and less of a hassle to maintain ( anyone who's had their whoopie slings get wet and freeze overnight knows what I'm talking about ). The loop spacing is reduced to 3 inches, which makes your hang much more customizable ( atlas straps are 6" ). The mantis hooks do away with carabiners.

This is my new favorite setup due to it's simplicity and durability. The straps will work as tree straps, then you just place your mantis hook and done. My new suspension is under 5 oz for something more durable and easier :)

]]>Reviewsslammiamhttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/145372-Dutchware-Spider-Daisy-Chains-mantisScandi Wooki Review all done!!http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/145350-Scandi-Wooki-Review-all-done!!?goto=newpost
Mon, 12 Mar 2018 20:24:05 GMTI finally finished my review of the Warbonnet Scandinavian Wooki! I missed the -19-24 temps here but did manage to get to -1 with it. It has more insulation though to deal with the colder temps for...I finally finished my review of the Warbonnet Scandinavian Wooki! I missed the -19-24 temps here but did manage to get to -1 with it. It has more insulation though to deal with the colder temps for sure! I also did a sort of intro to hammock camping. Basically barfed out the basics and linked to a few cottage vendors and this site of course. Oh, and Derek Hansens new updated book too! Hope y'all enjoy the read!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
]]>Reviewsgbbrim57http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/144967-Sierra-Madre-hammock-review-at-the-2018-Minnesota-Frozen-Butt-HangREI Quarter Dome Air - Second Reviewhttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/144944-REI-Quarter-Dome-Air-Second-Review?goto=newpost
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 03:32:48 GMTIts been about 9 months since I bought the REI hammock and posted a review here (see https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/136908-REI-Quarter-Dome-Hammock-Review). I have had it out...Its been about 9 months since I bought the REI hammock and posted a review here (see https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...Hammock-Review). I have had it out quite a bit since then, including last night in the Olympic Mountains. So I thought I would provide a brief second review after a more though testing period.

The Pros:

I find the hammock to be very comfortable. I am 6' 1" and about 190 lbs. I also have a Blackbird and a Traveler, but find this hammock much more comfortable to sleep in. I have heard several people complain about the narrowness of the REI hammock, but it has not been an issue for me, maybe because it's the only bridge I have ever been in. Outside of the first time I crawled into it I have not used a pad, using an UQ instead. I spend some time on my back, but more often I am curled up on one side or the other.

It is easy to set up and take down. All of the fittings work well and are easy to use.

I have been able to modify the suspension on my Hammock Gear UQ's to fasten up under the hammock. And I get a much better seal than I ever managed to obtain with the Blackbird.

I really like it

The Cons:

The tarp. I have gotten by with the stock tarp until last night. While it is small, it does work OK so long as there is little wind. But last night it was snowing and the wind was blowing. It was not fun. I enjoyed the trip, but a tarp with better coverage would have averted near disaster. Open to any suggestions there.

The suspension. I think the stock suspension is probably OK so long as you are dealing with small trees that are spaced correctly. However that seldom happens with the big Douglas Firs in the Olympics. I have replaced the whoopie sling / strap combination with the tree huggers from my Blackbird along with some Dutch Hook thingy's. That works much better.

Not a big deal, but it could use some additional storage inside. The two pockets are good, but if you hang anything from the interior loops it pulls the fly screen down onto your head.

I bought the REI UQ for the hammock, and it is well built and easy to attach. But there is not a lot to it. They say it is good down to 30 degrees, but that is hard to imagine. I use it just to supplement my winter quilt.

]]>ReviewsOldManhttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/144944-REI-Quarter-Dome-Air-Second-ReviewVideo: Sierra Madre Research Inferno Quilt Sethttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/144901-Video-Sierra-Madre-Research-Inferno-Quilt-Set?goto=newpost
Wed, 21 Feb 2018 01:58:20 GMTI got the chance to try out the Sierra Madre Research Inferno quilt set. I tried out the 30 degree set for several trip and other overnighters. I was able to comfortably take the set down into the...I got the chance to try out the Sierra Madre Research Inferno quilt set. I tried out the 30 degree set for several trip and other overnighters. I was able to comfortably take the set down into the mid and lower 20's on 2 of those trips. I stayed warm in this set! I really liked the suspension system of the UQ and the hood on the TQ. The weights are not bad either, 17.3 oz for the TQ and 19.3 oz for the UQ.